Navajo or Pueblo Ring with Turquoise and Gold

Navajo or Peublo

Circa 1950 | Silver, Turquoise, Gold | Item 2514

This is an unusual ring (size 10) with a beautiful and large turquoise stone of varied blues. The structure of the ring is silver. The top half has a layer of what is likely 10 or 14 karat gold, but it has not been tested. The gold is further embellished with punched designs of leaves and petals. The punch work is very fine. The surface shows much wear, perhaps due to the softer quality of the gold metal compared to the silver. The surface of the stone is slightly undulating, which adds even more to the rings textural look and feel. An opinion of a expert suggests that this may be Zuni, since early on the Zuni incorporated gold in their jewelry. The undulating quality of the stone and the way it is hugged in with the gold has suggestions of work of Leekya and his family.